â€˜Iâ€™ll Be Freedâ€™ Says Phuket Stabbing Accused

August 9, 2013

Swede Tommy Viktor Söderlund, on trial for the stabbing murder of Russian-Swede Maxim Schantz in Koh Keaw two years ago, appeared in court today (August 9) for a hearing, declaring afterwards that he was confident he would be freed soon.

Phuket – August 9,2013; Söderlund and fellow Swede Johan Sebastian Ljung – both 26 at the time – were arrested for the killing in the chic housing complex, The Lantern, soon after it took place.

Söderlund has denied committing murder, alleging that it was Ljung who stuck the knife into Mr Schantz’s throat, severing the carotid artery.

Initially the two were to be tried together but the court later agreed that they should be tried separately.

Prosecutors, lacking a witness to the killing itself, are having a hard time showing who stabbed Mr Schantz. The only witness against the duo is the owner of a motorbike they stole after climbing a wall during their flight from the murder scene.

It is known that the two were involved with Mr Schantz in call centre scam operation in Pattaya, and that there was a falling-out. But it still has not been revealed why they followed him to Phuket and what they wanted from him.

After today’s hearing Söderlund told The Phuket News in excellent Thai, which he has learned in his two years behind bars, “The reason we came to Phuket had to do with information.” But he did not elaborate.

He added, “I did not do anything. I will be freed.” Was he confident about this? He nodded and replied emphatically, “Yes!”

The next hearing in his trial will be on August 29.

View the original story on The Phuket News